Acing the Telephone Interview

Part Two

Understanding someone over the telephone can sometimes be a challenge, so if you didn't hear or didn't understand a question, ask the speaker to repeat it. If you need time to think about your answer, which is quite acceptable, say, "let me think about that for a moment," unannounced dead air can be unsettling to the interviewer.

Under no circumstances should you ask about money, benefits or vacation time. Your single objective at this point is to meet face-to-face; money is not an issue. If the interviewer asks how much you want, you can answer truthfully that at this point you don't know enough about the company or the job to answer that question; alternatively, you can safely give a salary range rather than a single figure skills (see Knock 'em Dead 2006: The Ultimate Job Seeker's Guide, chapters 23 and 24).

The telephone interview has come to an end when you are asked whether you have any questions. If you have not already been invited to meet the interviewer, now is the time to take the initiative, "It sounds like a very interesting opportunity, Ms. Bassett, and a situation where I could definitely make a contribution. The most pressing question I have now is when can we meet?"

When an invitation for interview is extended, there are practical matters that need to be addressed such as date, time, location, and floor; knowing the number of interviews and interviewers can also be useful.

In closing your conversation, take care to ascertain the correct spelling and pronunciation of the interviewer's name, it shows your concern for the small but important things in life—and it will be noticed, when your follow-up thank you note is received (see The Ultimate Cover Letter Book for a comprehensive selection of samples). Follow with an inquiry as to what direction the meeting will take. You might ask, "Would you tell me some of the critical areas you will discuss on Thursday?" The knowledge gained will give you a focus for in-person interview preparation.

That preparation begins the moment your telephone interview ends. Take a few minutes to deconstruct what has taken place; you'll want to take notes on all the details of the job, especially first projects and critical skill areas. You will also want to write up every statement made and question asked by the interviewer; they are all likely to come up again when you meet.

<< back  Page 2 of 2